High command wants another review, partymen get restless; Social media abuzz with speculations of pulls and pressures
MARGAO
The intense race for the Congress ticket for the South Goa seat seems far from over, bringing the Congress camp under the close lens of party workers and well-wishers.
Even as the Congress leadership comprising of GPCC chief Amit Patkar and Leader of Opposition Yuri Alemao returned home from Delhi on late Thursday and announced that the party will declare the candidates for the Goa seats on Friday, reports emanating from Delhi now say that the candidates will be announced only on Easter Sunday.
Sources further informed that the High Command has called the Amit-Yuri duo to Delhi on Sunday before the party leadership takes a final decision on the candidates, especially for the South Goa seat.
That’s not all. Even as the suspense over the South Goa candidate continues, a post did the rounds on the social media speaking about rumours about mass resignations by party top leaders and by most of the blocks if the South Goa ticket is given to ex-GPCC chief Girish Chodankar.
The leaders mentioned in the post were not available for comment, but it is believed in political circles that the post must have been uploaded on the social media as a pressure tactic and to send a message clear to the party High Command not to take the local party leadership for granted.
The social media post also assumes significance and comes against the backdrop of the fact that the Congress High Command has postponed declaration of the candidates from Friday to Sunday. It also assumes significance and comes against the backdrop of the report that ex-PCC chief Girish Chodankar has stepped up his campaign for the ticket.
Incidentally, after returning from Delhi on late Thursday evening, the Amit-Yuri duo had told the media that the Congress will give a candidate, who will meet the aspirations of Goans by raising issues dear to the heart of Goans in Parliament.
Even as many a political observer had interpreted the duo’s statement as an indication that the ticket may go to Captain Viriato Fernandes, the High Command is believed to have called up the local leadership on Friday to come to Delhi and discuss the ticket issue on Sunday.
A section of the party leadership, sources said, is also keen in giving an honourable exit to four-time sitting MP Francisco Sardinha in the event the party decides to nominate either Girish or Captain Viriato for the South Goa ticket. “The party leadership may try and engage with the sitting MP before taking a final decision on the ticket,” a party leader informed.
